South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales); 5/28/2005
Byline: By Jenny Longhurst South Wales Echo
As dotty old dears go, Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha take a lot of beating.
The two sisters, who bump off elderly gentlemen with elderberry wine for the most noble of reasons will be bringing on the laughs in the classic comedy Arsenic And Old Lace at the New Theatre next week.
And actress Angela Thorne, who plays Abby in this new production of the well known standard, says she has as much fun as the audience.
'When I got the script it made me laugh out loud and it takes quite a lot to do that,' she said. 'It just doesn't seem to date.
'Abby is very compassionate and loves to feed all these men who keep coming to the house,' she says of her character.
Angela and Brigit Forsyth play warm-hearted pensioners who don't want their house guests to become lonely in their old age, decide to do them a favour by serving up a special brew to help them on their way.
Angela's big television break came when she played Marjorie, the downtrodden friend of Audrey Forbes-Hamilton played by Penelope Keith, in To The Manor Born. And although the series was first screened 25 years ago, it's still a big draw: '
It's very English and I think the appeal is that it sends the class system up rotten,' says Angela.
Angela, 66, was born in India where her father worked as a doctor and she always loved performing.
'I wanted to be a ballet dancer until I got too big. So then I turned to drama at school. I was the bossy one who wanted to be the centre of attention.'
Angela and her actor husband Peter Penry-Jones have started something of an acting dynasty with their two boys following them into the business.
Their son, Rupert Penry-Jones, plays Adam in BBC spy series Spooks, while Laurie has appeared at the National Theatre. 'I'm very proud of them,' said Angela. But she's even more delighted about Rupert's top production, a little girl called Florence Rose, now aged one. Her mother is Ballykissangel actress Dervla Kirwan. 'Everyone told me that being a grandmother would be wonderful,' Angela enthused. 'It's absolutely magical.
'As soon this tour finishes in June, we're going to do some bonding.'
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